Gems from January 2015

“Be still and know that I am God.”

(Psalm 46:10) 

That I Might Know Thee

Another year, O Lord, lifts my vessel on its tide,

The way ahead is dark, but Thou art by my side.

The voyage may be stormy; the sea not always calm,

But Thy grace will be my portion; Thy love, my healing balm.

My purpose on the voyage, by Thee I’ve been assigned,

To preach the Gospel to the meek, and broken hearts to bind,

To proclaim liberty to the captive and freedom to those enslaved,

To fulfill Thy great commission and redeem the day of grace.

This one boon I ask Thee Lord, ere on the voyage I start,

That as the year ahead unfolds, I would know Thee as Thou art.

Reveal Thyself to me O God, that I might nearer be,

To the Lord who calms the storms; to the God who rules the sea.

(S. McEachern)

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January 1 

“And for that the dream was double unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass”

(Genesis 41:32)

Pharaoh learns a second truth at the lips of Joseph.

Not only has God a plan for the government of Egypt, but “the thing is established by God.” 

The ingenuity of man can evolve a bewildering succession of theories and plans,

but over all there is the fatal stamp of utter instability.

One generation unfolds its theories and pursues its plans with 

immense energy, only to have them entirely flung aside by a succeeding generation.

But God only can declare “the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not,”

and He can say, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure” (Isaiah 46:10).    

(Joseph - Hamilton Smith)  

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January 2

“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

(Romans 6:11)

A wise servant of Christ was, on one occasion, speaking with Mr. Richard Hill, a Christian judge, and put four questions to him.

1. "Is Christ between you and the wrath of God?”  To that question question Mr. Hill replied in the affirmative.

2. “Is Christ between you and your sins?”  Again the judge replied in the affirmative.

3. “Is Christ between you and the world?  Once more Mr. Hill replied affirmatively.

The fourth question was the most searching of all - - - 

4.“Is Christ between you and Richard Hill?”  Mr Hill hesitated, and then answered: "I fear I cannot say He is.  Thank you, I shall think that out.”

The apprehension in living power of what is involved in the fourth question, together with the fact that we are risen with Christ (Colossians 3:1) would end all form of introspection, and the depression of spirit which they occasion.

There is a whole philosophy of life in the old saying which tells us that if we want to be miserable we have just to look within; that if we want to be distracted we have only to look around; but that if we want to be happy we must look up.

“Buried with Christ and raised with Him too, what is there left for me to do?

Simply to cease from worry and strife; simply to walk in newness of life.” 

(Heaven’s Cure for Earth’s Care - George Henderson)

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January 3

“The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. . . .

Moreover by them is thy servant warned.”

(Psalm 19:9,11)

How easily we stray whenever we get on the line of expediency.

The Lord must have the first place, or we  shall soon drift on the rocks.

Two lessons we need to learn - first to be brought to an end of ourselves

and also to be brought to the end of man,

and we then expect nothing from self,

and nothing from man.

If our hearts are set on one single thing on which the heart of God is not set,

 in so far we are out of communion.

(Footprints for Pilgrims - Edward Dennett)

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January 4

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

(Jeremiah 29:11)

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness,

Morning by morning, new mercies I see.

(Thomas O. Chisholm)

As we look back on the past year we are filled with thanksgiving for God’s goodness and faithfulness.

Sometimes we are not faithful to God but His patience and love for us is limitless.

No matter how far we stray, God has a plan for our lives and He wants to bless us beyond measure.

As we look to the year ahead, now is a good time to confess to God 

the sins of the past and look to Him for guidance for the future.

He has wonderful things in store for those who love Him!

(C.A.F.)

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January 5 

The Grace of God Cannot Be Extinguished

“And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

(1 Timothy 1:14)

Brethren, we should be keenly aware that the living God can no more hide His grace than the sun can hide it brightness!

We must keep in mind also that the grace of God is infinite and eternal.  Being an attribute of God, it is both boundless and infinitude!

The Old Testament is indeed a book of law, but not of law only.  Before the great flood Noah “found grace in the eyes of the Lord,” and after the law was given God said to Moses, “Thou hast found grace in My sight.”  .

There never was a time when the law did not represent the will of God for mankind nor a time when the violation of it did not bring its own penalty, though God was patient and sometimes “winked” at wrongdoing because of the ignorance of the people.

The great source and spring of Christian morality is the love of Christ Himself, not the law of Moses; nevertheless there has been no putting aside of the principles of morality contained in the law.  The grace of God made sainthood possible in Old Testament days just as it does today!

God has promised that He will always be Himself.  Men may flee form the sunlight to dark and musty caves of the earth, but they cannot put out the sun.  So men may in any dispensation despise the grace of God, but they cannot extinguish it!  (A.W. Tozer)

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January 6

“Be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.” 

(1 Peter 3:8)

A man usually reveals himself in his private letters; 

and in the only personal letter which we have of the apostle Paul - the epistle to Philemon - 

we see how courteous a gentleman he was.  

Of it someone has said, 

“The most gentlemanly letter ever written, by the most perfect gentle man, 

is, in my opinion, Paul’s epistle to Philemon.  

If you study its courtesies, you will see how manifold and how delicate they are”.

If you want to see how Paul asks a favour, read the epistle to Philemon; 

if you want to see how he returns thanks, 

read the epistle to the Philippians (chapter 4:1–21).

If we all resolve that henceforth we will be gentle, courteous, thoughtful, unobtrusively sympathetic, 

and persistently friendly, how many unpleasant things will be avoided!  

(Winsome Christianity - Henry Durbanville)

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January 7

“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just and good.”

(Romans  7:12)  

Isn’t it strange that society, in its quest for enlightenment, would so despise God’s law?

What society (or individual) wouldn’t be better off if they abided by the ten commandments?

Would society be worse if people: 

Didn’t steal,

Didn’t lie,

Didn’t murder, 

Loved God more than pleasure,

Were faithful in their relationships?

Of course not!

Humanity’s condemnation is unbelief and society’s greatest deficiency is rejecting what’s best for it.

(Rick Morse)

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January 8

Power From on High

“Ye shall receive power, 

after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you."

(Acts 1:8) 

Bear in mind that we must not expect consciousness of power.

It is on this point that so many stumble.

They want to feel power, and failing to do so they conclude that they 

are in the wrong condition of soul for its exercise.

No mistake could be greater.

On the other hand, the Lord has to break down His servants . . .

in order to reduce them to the sense of their own utter impotence,

that they may learn the lesson that His strength is made perfect in weakness.

Human arrangements interfere with divine power.

(Edward Dennett - Footprints for Pilgrims)

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January 9

"There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion . . . a devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. . . said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour.”

(Acts 10:1-2,30)

Alms, Prayer, and Fasting!  They remind us of the three aspects of practical righteousness mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6.  Or have we forgotten such things?

Some call a man like Cornelius “austere” or even “ascetic.”  Exhortations to alms, prayer, and fasting often fall on deaf ears.  Some think these things belong only to the past.  They may enjoy reading about men of God who were truly men of prayer.  But reading is one thing and doing is another.

To labour fervently (or combat earnestly) in prayer (Colossians 4:12) has given way now to a more comfortable and more stylish way of becoming spiritual: relaxing in a cozy chair and reading someone’s latest book on the spiritual life while sipping a cup of tea.

The book may offer nothing more than thin soup and ice cubes.  What a poor diet for a child of God!  This is not what “a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3) needs in order to win the battle.

Perhaps we have forgotten that we are soldiers, and that there is a fight to be fought, a battle to be won, and that it can be won only if we are on our knees.  As the soldier in the battlefield needs communication with headquarters, so do we. 

We must always remember the seriousness of the situation.  We live in a disaster area.  The world is in a state of emergency.  And the Lord Jesus has already informed us that without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).

“But the end of all thing is at hand  be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer” (1 Peter 4:7)  (A.M. Behnam)

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January 10

“He [Jesus] riseth from supper, and laid aside His garments; and took a towel, and girded Himself. After that He poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet. . . . Jesus saith to him [Peter], He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit.”

(John 13:4-5,10)

Sins are obvious things, but perhaps the dust on the feet means things less easily discerned. That inward uprising of the “I,” those lacks of which we are conscious more and more -  lacks of love, courage, patience, simple good-tempered contentedness - such lacks make dusty feet.

Is it not blessed and wonderful that He Himself prepared the disciples for the Supper? We may not see the dust distinctly, but he does, and He poureth water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet.

Wet feet would soon pick up dust again, so He wiped them with the towel wherewith He was girded.

Whenever we remember our dear Lord’s death, is it not peace to know that He Himself will prepare us?

And as the old hymn says,

“When I am clean, Lord, keep me too,

For that is more than I can do.”

(Whispers of His Power - Amy Carmichael)

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January 11

“He (John) was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.”  (John 5:35)

“She has neither rusted out, nor burned out.  She is burning still.”  As reported in a magazine.
I prayed that it might be true of each one of us.  We want most earnestly not to rust out,
we would gladly be burned out, but till that day comes, the Lord keep us “burning still”.
Perhaps some of us are sorely tempted to think that just now there is not much that is “burning”
about our lives.  Some are ill, some have duties of a very simple sort - where does the burning come in?

Where did it come in when John the Baptist was shut up in prison?  He could not do anything
but just endure, and not be offended, and not doubt his Lord’s love.
But when our Lord Jesus spoke of him, He said he was burning and shining -
“a burning and a shining light”.
It is not the place where we are, or the work that we do or cannot do, that matters, it is something else.
It is the fire within that burns and shines, whatever be our circumstances.
(Edges of His Ways - Amy Carmichael)


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January 12

“For if we judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”

(1 Corinthians 11:31)

In regard to this matter of self-judgment, 

God’s Word should always be the standard of judgment.

He says something in His Word and I say, 

“Oh, yes; I see it there on the page of the Bible, but certainly it has no application to me.”

Yet it is God’s direct Word to my soul, and I am putting away a good conscience, 

and so I need not expect to hear Him 

speak to me again until I am ready to listen to Him in this matter.

Why should He reveal other things to me when I refuse to bow to Him in this?

When you read the Bible, do you read it to become acquainted with it as literature,

to become familiar with its history, its philosophy, 

to derive help from its comforting passages,

or do you read it in order that you may obey it,

make it the Man of your Counsel?

(1 Corinthians - H.A. Ironside)

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January 13

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.”
(2 Corinthians 9:15)

The gift of salvation - a personal relationship with almighty God - what an indescribable gift!
Yet how often do we sincerely thank our Lord for all that He has done in making this possible?
Our lack of praise and thanksgiving for His gift of salvation can be likened to the response of the ten lepers after being miraculously healed by Christ. (Luke 17:11-19).
 Only one returned to express gratitude.
The interest of the other nine was centred more in what had happened to them personally than in remembering the One who had performed the miracle in their lives.
Are we ever guilty of this same carelessness?

The words of this hymn by Seth & Bessie Sykes have been greatly used of God
since they were written in 1940 to allow believers to offer praise for the gift of their salvation.

Some thank the Lord for friends and home, for mercies sure and sweet;
but I would praise Him for His grace-in prayer I would repeat:

Chorus: Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul, thank you Lord for making me whole;
thank you Lord, for giving to me Thy great salvation so rich and free.

Some thank Him for the flow’rs that grow, some for the stars that shine;
my heart is filed with joy and praise because I know He’s mine.

I trust in Him from day to day, I prove His saving grace;
I’ll sing this song of praise to Him until I see His face.

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January 14

January 17

“But the God of all grace, Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, 
after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
(1 Peter 5:10)

Grace is God’s holy love in action, bringing daily development to our lives,
strengthening us as we anticipate our eternal destiny.
Grace wends its way all along the heavenly road: saves us (1 Peter 1:10);
sustains and maintains us (1 Peter 4:10),
and certifies to ground, guide and guard us on to eternal glory.

What marvellous grace that, in spite of our failures,
He will fulfill in us and through us His power,
conforming us, and controlling us
so that His purposes will be fulfilled to the praise of His Glory.
Magnify Thy Grace, O Lord.
(Les Rainy)

O God of matchless grace, we sing unto Thy name!
We stand accepted in the place that none but Christ could claim.
Our willing hearts have heard Thy voice,
And in Thy mercy we rejoice!
(Hannah K. Burlington)

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January 18

"My times are in Thy hand!” 
(Psalm 31:15) 

Firmly believing that my times are in God's hand,
I here submit myself and all my affairs for the ensuing year,
to the wise and gracious disposal of God's divine providence.
Whether God appoints for me . . . .  health--or sickness, peace--or trouble, comforts--or crosses, life--or death - - may His holy will be done!

All my time, strength, and service, I devote to the honor of the Lord Jesus--and even my common actions.
It is my earnest expectation, hope, and desire, my constant aim and endeavor--that Jesus Christ may be magnified in me.

In everything I have to do--my entire dependence is upon Jesus Christ for strength. And whatever I do in word or deed,
I desire to do all in His name, to make Him my Alpha and Omega. I have all from Him--and I would use all for Him.

If this should prove a year of affliction, a sorrowful year to me--I will fetch all my supports and comforts from the
Lord Jesus and stay myself upon Him, His everlasting consolations, and the good hope I have in Him through grace.

And if it should be my dying year--then my times are in the hand of the Lord Jesus.
And with a humble reliance upon His mediation, I would venture into the eternal world looking for the blessed hope.
Dying as well as living--Jesus Christ will, I trust, be gain and advantage to me.

Oh, that the grace of God may be sufficient for me, to keep me always in a humble sense of my own unworthiness,
weakness, folly, and infirmity--together with a humble dependence upon the Lord Jesus Christ for daily grace and strength.
(Matthew Henry - B.L)

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January 19

“Unto Him that loved us . . . be glory and dominion for ever and ever.”
(Revelation 1:5-6)

The Christian may sometimes say,
I am not in a state to praise; he may,
it is true, be more or less capable of doing it well,
but he is always in a state to do it . . . because Christ
is always suitable to a sinful soul.
His praises will be modified,
but he will always praise.
(Pilgrim Portions for the Day of Rest - JND)

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January 20

“As dying, and, behold, we live.”
(2 Corinthians 6:9)

To one who asked him the secret of service, Mr George Mueller replied:
“There was a day when I died, utterly died to George Muelller;”
and, as he spoke, he bent lower and lower until he almost touched the floor —
“to his opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world,
its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame of even my brethren and friends.
Since then I have studied to show myself approved only unto God.”

Look at that splendid oak!  Where was it born?  In a grave.
The acorn was put into the ground and in that grave it sprouted and sent up its shoots.
And was it only one day that it stood in the grave?
No: every day for a hundred years it has stood there,
and in that place of death it has found its life.
“The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.”
(Springs in the Valley)

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January 21

Just an Ordinary Day

“Surely I come quickly.”
(The last promise in the Holy Scriptures)

“Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” 
(The last prayer in the Holy Scriptures)

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  Amen.”
(The last provision in the Holy Scriptures)
(Revelation 22:20)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Some time, some ordinary day will come,
A day like this, filled to the brim

With ordinary tasks, perhaps so full

That we have little time or thought for Him;


And there will be no hint from silent skies,

No sign, no clash of cymbals, roll of drums,

And yet that ordinary day will be the very day

Before our dear Lord comes!

(Adapted)

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January 22

WHERE PEOPLE ARE

“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” 
(Romans 12:15)

Paul encourages us to respond to people where they are. We are to relate to the situation and state in which we find others.

He goes on to say,

“Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate.  Be not wise in your own conceits” (Romans 12:16).

We are exhorted to “condescend to men of low estate.” For us to be otherwise would be conceited, or self-centred.
Christ lived in this truth. He was the Master at identifying with people.
A prime example can be seen when the Lord Jesus Christ was at the tomb of Lazarus.
The Lord of Life came to the weeping loved ones of Lazarus and wept with them.
Thus, the shortest verse in the Bible,

“Jesus wept” (John 11:35).

The context shows just how Jesus responded to Mary and Martha.

“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her,  He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, and said, ‘Where have ye laid him?’ 
They said unto Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, ‘Behold how He loved him!’ ” 
(John 11:33-36).

Jesus would soon raise Lazarus from the dead, but in the mean time He would simply identify with those in sorrow, and meet them where they were. Meeting people where they are is a divine undertaking.
(Selected)

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January 23

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Romans 8:38-39).

Have you ever had or made a sandwich with, say,
white bread on one side and wheat bread on the other?
That is kind of what we have in Romans 8:

“There is therefore now no condemnation 
to them which are in Christ Jesus.”
(Romans 8:1)

The chapter begins with “No condemnation” and ends with “No separation”,
(that would be the two different breads). How wonderful, Tremendous truths
that should encourage and comfort our hearts. What security!

Some might teach that we can lose our salvation – it says,
nothing else in all creation will be able to separate us
from that love. We are safe in Jesus’ hands:

“I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father which gave them Me,  is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand.  I and My Father are one.” 
(John 10:28-30)

“Nothing else in all creation” includes me. Hallelujah!

By the way, no sandwich is truly complete without the filling.
To see what the “filling” in this Romans 8 sandwich is,
 read the rest of the chapter.
(LIFElines F.P.)

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January 24

Fiery Trials

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you . . . 
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye.” 
(1 Peter 4:12-14)

 Christ promised that we would be hated for our stand (John 15:18-21), but He also prayed for us,
not that we would be spared the persecution but that we
would be victorious in it and sanctified through it.

“The world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep 
them from the evil. . . . sanctify them through thy truth” (John 17:14-17).

This is the message of the fourth verse of “How Firm a Foundation.”

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply,
The flames shall not hurt thee, I only design,
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

In His wisdom, He may choose to allow persecution to block life’s pathway, but we will not
face such opposition alone. His grace will supply our every need.Heating gold above
its melting point allows the denser gold to be separated from the frothy impurities
(or dross), thus purifying the gold. Just so does God allow “fiery trials” in our
lives, pushing us beyond the melting point, to
“purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” 
(Titus 2:14). 
(Adapted)

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January 25

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors 
through Him that loved us.”
(Romans 8:37)

When John Chrysostom (c. 347-407) was called before the court of the empress Eudoxia,
he was threatened with banishment.
“You cannot; for the world is my Father’s house.”
“Then I will end your life.”
“You cannot; for my life is hid with Christ in God.”
“I will strip you of your wealth.”
“You cannot; for my treasure is in heaven, and my heart is there as well.
There is nothing you can do to hurt me.”
Can we echo this beloved brother’s words?

Soldier of the cross, arise!  Lo! your Leader from the skies
Waves before you glory’s prize - our gain is in His loss.
Seize your armour, gird it on; fight until the battle’s won;
Soon the conflict will be done, O triumph of the cross!
(Selected)

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January 26

The Name of Jesus

“Thou shalt call His Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.”
(Matthew 1:21)

“A name which is above every name.”
(Philippians 2:9)

There is a name all names above, exalted name of Jesus;
It tells us of a Father’s love, the saving name of Jesus;
It is the sinner’s only plea, the seal of his salvation;
It is the Christians’s joyful hope, his faith’s secure foundation.

There is a name wherein we hide, the fortress-name of Jesus,
The refuge where our souls may bide, the mighty name of Jesus;
It was our Father’s dwelling place and still for us availing;
Unshaken should its ramparts stand against the world’s assailing.

There is a name by which we live, the one great name of Jesus,
And daily triumph it will give, the Victor-name of Jesus;
It is the sword that smites our foes with lightning stroke of splendour,
For every danger, every fear, our shield and our defender.
(Annie Johnson Flint)


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January 27

“I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: 
[The Shepherd] among the lilies.”
(Song of Solomon 6:3) 

Many a precious soul can say Jesus is mine,and conceive that their love for
Him is so great that they would lay down their life for Him.
Peter loved the blessed Lord, and reckoned that his love
was strong enough to carry him into death for Him:

“I will lay down my life for Thy sake;. Jesus answered him, 
Wilt thou lay down thy life for My sake?  Verily, verily, 
I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, 
till thou hast denied Me thrice.” 
(John 13:37,38)

Peter must needs learn, not only that Jesus was precious to him,
but that he was precious to Jesus; that although he might let go of Christ,
Christ would not let go of Peter.
(J.B. Jackson)

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January 28

"And let us not be weary in well doing: 
for in due season we shall reap, if we FAINT not."   
(Galatians 6:9)

“Consider Him . . . lest ye be wearied and FAINT in your minds.”
(Hebrews 12:3.5)

When I was a boy my father took me down to a wagon shop (there are no such things now)
and there he got a piece of nice, well seasoned ash wood; and from this he made me a beautiful bow.

The good piece of ash alone could not make the bow, there had to be a strong cord,
tied from end to end of the wood, and tightened till the wood was well bent, and the cord was taught.
Then with a good straight arrow, what a joy it was to any boy!

But suppose the cord got slack, and loose (faint), what then?
The bow is useless in spite of having such a good piece of ash to make it.
One secret of a good bow is having a good tight bow-string.

In the Gospels it is our body that faints, and in Hebrews it is our mind.
I suppose it might be both body and mind that faint.
But in all these cases we grow slack, like the bow-strong:
and a slack bow-string is no use to its master.
How important for us to find out the remedy, so that we shall not grow slack (faint).
Ponder well “Consider Him”.
As we "Consider Him": we will grow strong in spirit and never grow slack.
(Hid Treasures - G.C. Willis)

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January 29

Learn the Cost

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as sliver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers: but
with the precious blood of Christ . . .” 
(1 Peter 1:18-19)

We gave our 2-year old son a pair of new boots recently.  He was so happy that he didn’t take them off until it was bedtime.  But the next day he forgot all about  the boots and put on his old sneakers.  My husband said, "I wish he knew how much things cost.”

The boots were expensive, but a young child doesn’t know about working hours, salaries, and taxes.  A child receives the gifts with open arms, but we know that he can’t be expected to fully appreciate the sacrifices his parents make to give him new things.

Sometimes I behave like a child.  With open arms I receive God’s gifts through His many mercies, but am I thankful?  Do I consider the price that was paid so I can live a full life?

The cost was expensive - more than “corruptible things, like silver or gold.”  As we read in 1 Peter, it required “the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot”.  Jesus gave His life, a high price to pay, to make us part of His family.  And God raised Him from the dead.

When we understand the cost of our salvation, we learn to be truly thankful.  (Keila Ochoa - Our Daily Bread)

(Reprint permission granted - Our Daily Bread)
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N.J. Hiebert - 5782  

January 30

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”
(Philippians 4:4)

Our joy to be solid must rest on something immovable.
Just as soon as we hang our happiness on circumstances or surroundings,
we go up or we go down with the tide.
The thermometer of our joy is at the mercy of outside circumstances.
(Comforted of God - A.J. Pollock)

N.J. Hiebert - 5783

January 31

“When they had fulfilled all that was written of Him, 
they took Him downs from the tree, and laid Him in a sepulchre.” 

(Acts 13:29)

One intriguing aspect of Biblical prophecy is the occurrence in the 

New Testament of events foretold in the Old.

Some have reckoned that, concerning Christ’s kingship, we have nine such passages (e.g.,

“thy king cometh . . . sitting upon an ass,” in Matthew 21:5),

and then sixteen connected with His sufferings (e.g.,”I thirst,” in John 19:28).

Such facts give us fresh confidence about our own future -

He will come again.

As Peter said, “we have also a more sure word of prophecy, 

whereunto ye do well that ye take heed” (2 Peter 1:19).

(W.P.W. McVey)

O child of God, there is for thee, a hope that shines amid the gloom;

A hope that thou wilt surely see thy Lord, for He will surely come.

(T.D.W. Muir)

N.J. Hiebert - 5784